Melt remaining butter and brush all over turkey; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Ties legs together with kitchen string and tuck wings under back. Place, breast side up, on rack in roasting pan. Roast in 325°F (160°C) oven until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh reads 185°F (85°C), 3-1/2 to 4 hours. Lift turkey onto platter. Remove skewers and string. Let stand for at least 15 minutes or for up to 30 minutes before carving.

Gravy: Drain all but 2 tbsp (25 mL) fat from pan. Whisk in flour; cook over medium-high heat, scraping up browned bits, for 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in stock and bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Strain through sieve. Serve with turkey.

Sponge Toffee

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It takes just five simple ingredients to create this crunchy confection from our Holiday Celebrations 2009 special issue. To ensure an airy toffee, do not overstir the caramel when adding the baking soda. Dip the pieces in white chocolate for a festive touch.

Ingredients

Nutritional facts
per piece: about

Fibre0 g

Sodium111 mg

Protein0 g

Calories53.0

Total fat0 g

Potassium0 mg

Cholesterol0 mg

Saturated fat0 g

Total carbohydrate14 g

Method

In large saucepan, bring sugar, corn syrup and 1/3 cup water to boil over medium heat, stirring just until sugar dissolves. Boil, without stirring but brushing down side of pan with pastry brush dipped in cold water, until candy thermometer reads 300?F (149?C) or 1 tsp mixture dropped in cold water forms hard brittle threads, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

Standing back and averting face, whisk in baking soda and vanilla. (Caramel will bubble and sputter and increase in volume.) Do not overmix.

Method

In large bowl, beat together butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time; beat in vanilla. In separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda; stir into butter mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. (Make-ahead: Shape into disc, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze in freezer bag for up to 1 month. Bring to room temperature before continuing with recipe.)

Bake, 1 sheet at a time, in 350?F (180?C) oven until tops are no longer shiny, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool on pans for 2 minutes; transfer directly to racks to cool completely. (Make-ahead: Store in airtight container for up to 3 days.)

Change it up: The Ultimate Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies
Prepare dough and arrange on baking sheets as directed (do not flatten). Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Transfer directly to 350?F (180?C) oven and bake until tops are no longer shiny, about 12 minutes.
Tip from The Test Kitchen: Baking sheets vary in thickness and finish, which affect the doneness of cookies. A heavy, shiny uncoated baking sheet will allow the cookies to bake most evenly.

Method

In bowl, whisk coconut with 1 tsp of the clementine zest. Set aside.

In food processor, pulse clementines until finely chopped.

In small saucepan, bring clementines and 1/4 cup of the sugar to boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until mixture reaches jam-like consistency and is reduced by half, about 7 minutes. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.

In large bowl, beat together egg whites, remaining sugar and cornstarch until foamy. Stir in coconut mixture and clementine mixture. Let stand until liquid is absorbed, about 5 minutes.

Method

Sprinkle fish with half each of the salt and pepper. In large nonstick skillet, heat half of the oil over medium-high heat; cook fish, turning once, until edges are golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to plate.